Reading Climate Forum: Ground Source Heat Pumps

Monday 20 November 2017

In this free talk, Dr Rayner Mayer will explain what heat pumps are, how they work, and how their large scale deployment could benefit Reading’s citizens and reduce the production of greenhouse gases responsible for global warming.

Reading is uniquely placed to decarbonise its heat demand by virtue of its underlying geology. The water flowing in the fractured chalk layers between 20 and 200 metres beneath the surface provides a shallow geothermal resource, whose heat could be concentrated using ground source heat pumps to provide space and water heating for all Reading’s dwellings.

The talk will be followed by a discussion about the desirability of undertaking a monitored trial in Reading by retrofitting a group of dwellings with higher levels of insulation and providing geothermal heating via a small district heating scheme.

Note: if the Global Cafe is closed, access to the main hall is via a side passage to the rear of the building, or from East Street.